Documents

U.S. Department of Transportation Climate Adaptation Plan (2014)

Abstract

Pursuant to Executive Orders No. 13514 and 13653, as well as Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Implementing Instructions, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is required to submit a Climate Adaptation Plan. DOT’s work on climate adaptation began with the understanding that climate impacts will affect DOT’s strategic goals of safety, state of good repair and environmental sustainability. This plan is an update from the 2012 DOT Climate Adaptation Plan, which includes the new requirements of E.O. 13653 and guidance from CEQ. It reflects FY2013 and FY2014 commitments as well as other DOT accomplishments.

This adaptation plan is organized into sections based on the guidance from CEQ and describes steps DOT will take to move towards fully integrating considerations of climate change adaptation and resiliency into DOT policies, programs, and operations. The Office of the Secretary and modal administrations are each playing a role in implementing this plan. The Office of Safety, Energy and Environment (OSEE), in the Office of the Secretary (OST), coordinates DOT’s actions with support from the DOT’s Climate Change Center, staffed from the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Innovation, also located in OST. OSEE has participated in the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force, the related CEQ working group and the community of practice. DOT staff has presented work on regional impacts, pilots and best practices before Federal forums and with Federal agencies in order to share information and exchange best practices. OST’s Office of the Assistant Secretary of Administration manages DOT’s facilities and assets across the country.